What's the Big Deal about South America?
Updated: Sep 3, 2021
Path to World Peace & Unification
Even after True Father's Holy Ascension, the world is still troubled by sexual immorality represented by the LGBT movement, violence and conflicts, materialism, and even communism. How were world peace and world unity supposed to occur based on True Father’s plans?
This article is the SECOND part of the 2-part series of lectures called "Guideposts to World Peace & Unification" examining what True Father planned to complete the world of peace from the perspective of Ocean Providence.
Ocean Hobby Seminar Team
Introduction: South America and World Peace & Unification
What was it about South America that makes it special for every Unificationist member? For those people who live in developed countries, South America may seem like a group of underdeveloped countries filled with drugs and corruption. But why did True Father spent 7 years living and fishing in the jungle?
Most blessed families may remember South America as a place where the 2nd 40-year course had started in 1995 by Sao Paulo Declaration, all blessed families had to go and attend the Jardim re-education workshops, and True Father lived and fished in the wild from 1995 to 2001.
If we read Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Chapter 3, and other Words related to South America, we can understand clearly that South America Providence was associated with (1) the establishment of ideal society, (2) unification of the Christian cultural sphere, (3) education of blessed families, (4) protection of the environment (Pantanal & Amazon), (5) forgiving historical criminals, (6) Satan's Natural Surrender, and others.
(Photo: True Parents at Fuerte Olimpo, a small village in Paraguay, being escorted in a vehicle prepared by a police officer stationed at the village)
In this article, we will summarise the South American Providence from the perspective of "North and South America Unification." When we start to read the Words, we immediately see that the "North and South America Unification" is the first "starting point" towards the final goal, the unified world of peace.
In addition, when we further examine the methods in which True Father envisioned the unification process, although He speaks about international marriages and ideological education, we see that the more substantive method of unification is "equalization," which is thoroughly discussed throughout Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 in various ways (the words "equalize" and "equalization" appear over 30 times in this Book). Just as the word "sacrifice" is very difficult for common people to hear and implement, the word "equalization" is also a word that is not easy to hear and implement for those living in already industrialized countries. However, we read in many of True Father's Words that He saw equalization as something inevitable and a prerequisite for World Peace and Unification.
True peace will not come as long as humanity does not solve the problem of hunger. If the person next to me is about to die of hunger, peace is a mere luxury. (As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen, Chapter 7, pg. 321)
The reason why equalization is necessary is that there is a considerable "inequality" that exists in the world, and as long as it exists, peace and unity cannot be achieved. The problem of hunger is by far the worst result of this inequality in human society. The Ocean Providence which attempts to solve the problem of hunger can be said to be the providence of equalization.
This article will explain, by examining True Father's Words and deeds, that:
The Providence of North and South America Unification is the starting point of the Providence of World Peace and Unification,
Equalization is the principal method of achieving World Peace & Unification, and
Many parts of the providence, including the establishment of Ideal Society (Puerto Leda, Jardim) in South America, International Peace Highway (Peace Road), and Ocean Providence were integral parts of True Father's plan for "World Peace & Unification."
The Starting Point of World Unification
What was the goal of the "North and South America unification"? From the following Words, it can be clearly said that the Providence to unify North and South Americas is part of the Providence of World Unification.
If North America and South America become one, Europe will be united automatically and the mistakes of Rome, the nation of Israel, and Jacobs's family will be restored. The history of division traces back to conflict in Israel with ten tribes fighting two tribes, and then back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and even to where the mind and body became separated. We need to mend all of these separations. From these divisions the entire worldwide family fell under Satan's realm. All realms and levels -- Adam's family, Judaism, Rome, Europe, and the world -- were divided into Cain and Abel.
When we reverse this, everything will become one. Reversal is how unity takes place. Total indemnification must be accomplished. The indemnification of the entire providence will be a great victory for the whole. This can become an eight-level victory and a model for complete victory. If North America and South America become one, the fighting between the Roman Catholics and Protestants in Europe will come to an end and unity will be realized based on the realm of Christian culture. (269-200, 1995/04/23 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 4)
I have created a religious body that completes all of Christianity. This means the United States will end up having no choice but to follow the Unification Church. Cain and Abel will become one. Because Cain and Abel have become one here, the US will become a plus. South America is a Catholic realm, so it is in the elder brother's position and therefore is a minus. If this oneness is achieved, the world will be united.
The United States must stand in the Abel position as a true elder brother nation representing the world, and South America, in the restored Cain position, must become one with North America. Only then will the entire world be united. The unity of North America and South America represents the unity of Cain and Abel in Europe at the world level, and also at the level of the nation and the people. This is a model for the unity of mind and body. Everything can be united by going in reverse. That is why I have paved the way and built a foundation by bringing North America to help South America. (267-043, 1994/12/27 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 5)
"Only then will the entire world be united" means that the unification of North and South America is a necessary step to arrive at our final goal, the unification of the entire world. Hence, we can at least conclude that:
The final goal is the world unification
Unity of North and South America is a step towards world unification
Unity of North and South America is the unity of the Christian cultural realm
Now that we understand the final goal and the first step, let us look closely at other intermediate steps towards world unification.
The Guideposts for the World Peace & Unification
On 1 May 1994 (the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Spirit Association for Unification of World Christianity), True Father declared that the era of the HSA-UWC had ended and inaugurated a new organization called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU). Around that time, True Father spoke many Words about how the "World Peace and Unification" will come to pass.
Now, if North America and South America can become one through my efforts, then North Korea and South Korea on the Korean Peninsula can unify and Israel and the Muslim world can unite. The unity of Europe will not be a problem either. This will happen all at once. (266-134, 1994/12/22 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 8)
The prevailing culture derives from Christianity, and the leader in transforming modern society is North America. South America has opposed North America until now. If these two continents were to become one, they would form a great power base. If this were to happen, Europe, North America and South America, and then Asia would naturally join the Christian cultural realm. That is why I must unite the cultural realm of Christianity in North America and South America and then connect it to Asia. I need to unite Asia with North America and South America. Without doing this there is no future. (268- 311, 1995/04/03 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 2)
According to what is written in the above Words, the following appears to be the steps starting from the unification of North and South Americas to the final goal of world unification (implied steps are expressed within parentheses, based on the author's opinion):
Unification of the Christian cultural sphere in North and South Americas
Unification of the Christian spheres in Europe (Unification of Europe and Africa)
Unity of Judaism and Islam (Resolution to the Middle East conflict)
Christian cultural sphere extends to Asia (Chinese Communist problem resolved)
Unification of the Korean Peninsula
We can see that the significance of the unification of North and South America is enormous. Although we do not see how these steps are accomplished, when we considering the five "guideposts" listed above, we can see that they are very logical. First, if North and South America were to unite, the Christian cultural spheres of Protestantism and Catholicism will be united. Europe is also within the Christian cultural sphere, so it will be united next. Then Asia will be unified next. If China is consumed by the Christian cultural sphere, the North Korean regime and the Juche ideology cannot be sustained (because they are only able to exist with the support of the Chinese Communist Party) and they may be motivated towards the Unification of North and South Koreas.
The problem is how these steps can be accomplished. How is the series of unifications supposed to happen? Is it through ideological education, missionaries, and political persuasion? They are absolutely necessary but what else? Other than witnessing and blessing (changing lineage), what must we do substantively? True Father said, as a human being possesses both mind and body, unity cannot come without a solution for both the internal and the external.
Human being are created so that their mind and body become one. Something similar is true for the world we live in. The world can be completely unified only when there is both physical communication and communication of heart. (As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen Chapter 7, pg.345)
"Complete unity" cannot be achieved only with communication of the heart. As blessed families, we must horizontally and substantively expand True Parents' vertical and internal realms of victory that we were supposed to inherit. The unification cannot be completed by religious activities alone, without the substantiation and realization of the Words.
The Method of Unification is the Practice of True Christianity
The unification of the Christian cultural sphere points to South America with its Cain-position Catholicism and North America with its Abel-position Protestantism to unite with each other, but how is this unification going to come about? It is obvious that the realm of the Abel, i.e., North America, had received the blessing and is far more prosperous than the realm of the Cain. If the nationalistic and imperialistic diplomacy of the advanced nations is continued, the inequality between neighboring nations and religiously motivated terrorisms will probably continue to the foreseeable future, far from being on the path to unification.
The unification method of an Abel is always the same: "live for the sake of others" to encourage natural surrender. In other words, it is the true practice of the Christian tenet, "love thy neighbor." Correcting the contradictions of the Christian cultural sphere and practicing this true Christian spirit is the only way to unify the Christian cultural sphere, convince other religions, convince all races, and unify all.
(Photo: True Father had completed the Abel's task - vertically, internally, and historically - already by loving the representative Cain, i.e., the blessed families, forgiving all the historical criminals and eventually causing the Satan's Natural Surrender on March 21st of 1999 and the historical meeting of God and Lucifer at Room 14 of Hotel Americano in Nabileque, Brazil on May 14th, 1999.)
The contradiction of Christian society is that although it professes to follow Christ, it did not truly obey the words of Christ. Jesus Christ told us to "love thy neighbor," but the United States - the most prosperous Christian nation - did not help the neighbor, Latin America, and sustained the severe inequality within the Chrisitan cultural realm that exists to this day. This is the contradiction of the Christian cultural realm on the global level. Blessed and enriched by God as the Abel in the Christian cultural realm for the purpose of using the wealth for the Lord of Second Coming, North America (Abel) must love its neighbor to eradicate the inequality - or the Christian contradiction will continue to persist.
If we hope for world unification while bearing such contradictions, no one - Middle East, Russia, or China - will be convinced. They are unlikely to enter the Christian cultural sphere and will not accept unity. True Father had spoken about this situation in 1995.
North and South America belong to the Christian cultural sphere. Catholicism and Protestantism are like siblings. When America, as it is now, comes to Asia, the Asian people think that America has crossed the Pacific, without regard for its sibling, to steal from distant nations. They would not think America came to help. This is how most Asians view Americans who come to Asia. They think, "What kind of help can they -- who come here without uniting with their own brothers, instead fighting and abandoning them -- bring to us?" They would believe that Americans had come to steal from them.
God is saying, "You Americans, you really have to get your act together." When they cross the Pacific to go to Asia, they will find seedlings of enmity there. Japan is an economic empire, and China is a population empire. The Soviet Union is an ideological empire. Therefore, in order to satisfy these nations you have to bring something greater. But what exactly can America provide? This is why they say that Americans have come to steal from them. (272-138, 1995.10.1 Pacific Rim Providence, Chapter 4, Section 1)
Equalization is the Key to Creating the True Christian Culture, True Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
How did True Father plan to unify North and South Americas? He spoke of cross-marriages between the two sides as one method. Then He established organizations such as the "Association for the Unity of Latin America (AULA)" and "Confederation of Associations for the Unity of the Societies of the Americas (CAUSA)," and brought ideological education for Latin American leaders.
However, as a practical method of unification, He advocated for the movement of equalization in the spirit of "North America saves South America." Jesus Christ said, "Love thy neighbor" and "sell your possessions and give to the poor." Equalization is the application of these Words, in order to unify the Christian cultural sphere.
Equalization is like water that flows from high to low, always seeking equilibrium. True Father has spoken many times about the equalization of North and South America.
North America must stand in the position of Abel and save South America, which is in the position of Cain. For this to take place, everything must be invested. If the people of the United States adopt my mentality and invest their lives and resources for the sake of South America, saving South America will not be a problem. This situation is similar to an area of high atmospheric pressure seeking out an area of low atmospheric pressure. The United States, which is an area of high pressure, can save South America. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 6)
North American people need to go to South America to receive training, and South American people need to go to North America to receive training. Although they speak different languages, they will eventually become one. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 3)
On the foundation of the Sao Paulo Declaration I will make a great move to the front line of South America. I have already announced that I am leaving North America, and will move to South America. I have downsized the organizations and agencies in North America, shifting the economic and human resources that were invested there to South America. It is time to build an ideal nation. We need to build an ideal house, an ideal city, and an ideal nation. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 2, 1)
You cannot imagine what a threat my plan to equalize technology around the world is to developed nations. If a country like the United States pursued the equalization of technology, it would have to share its technology with South America. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 1 Section 5, 7)
Yet, to this day, some countries in Europe still continue to exploit Africa and implement policies to perpetually enslave the nations there. Likewise, the United States implements policies putting South America under its control. I am trying to do away with all of this. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 1 Section 1, 10)
The issues that remain to be resolved during this century are the cultural gap between the East and the West, and the gap between the haves and have-nots in the North and the South. How can they be resolved? It is through my teaching of "living for the sake of others." The philosophy of living for your own sake belongs to the fallen world; the philosophy of living for the sake of others belongs to the heavenly world. Wealthy North America should live for the sake of its younger sibling, Latin America. North America should willingly sell its assets to help its younger sibling prosper. Only after North America helps Latin America to prosper at least as much as it does, if not more, should it invest for its own people. That is how both North America and South America will become places where God's ideal will eternally reside. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 1 Section 2, 18)
The people of the United States may be tempted to say, "We do not need South America, it is too poor." Nonetheless, we need to invest everything for the sake of South America. The members of the Unification Church are called to do this. A path to connect to the True Family can be made only by becoming one with South America, which inherited the authority of the elder son. There is no path to enter the true kingdom of heaven on earth if you are not connected to the True Family. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 6)
If we were religious people, we must seek the salvation of the world rather than our own personal salvation. We then must carry on the work to expand, embody, and materialize the internal and vertical victories won by our True Parents. This is the task to bring equalization to the world. This is the "Path to enter the True Kingdom of Heaven."
Like Jesus Christ, True Father repeatedly taught us the necessity of equalization. As was discussed in Divine Principle, the root of materialism (atheism) and communism is the contradiction of Christian society manifested in inequality (starving masses without physical salvation).
When ecclesiastic love waned, when waves of capitalistic greed surged across Christian Europe, when starving masses cried out bitterly in the slums, the promise of their salvation came not from heaven but from the earth. Its name was communism. Christianity, though it professed the love of God, had degenerated into a dead body of clergy trailing empty slogans. It was then only natural that a banner of rebellion would be raised, arguing that a merciless God who would allow such suffering could not exist. Hence, modern materialism was born. Western society became a hotbed of materialism; it was the fertile soil in which communism flourished. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Introduction)
If an organization or a nation emerges that practices a true Christian spirit - a true religion of both the spiritual and physical salvation - that aspires and practices world equalization, it can break apart atheism and communism at their roots. Judaism will also recognize and accept Jesus Christ and the Second Coming. It will be the same for Islam. The conflict in the Middle East will cease, and the communists will lose their reason for existence. In this way, we can start to see the flow towards world unification that can "happen all at once."
Now, if North America and South America can become one through my efforts, then North Korea and South Korea on the Korean Peninsula can unify and Israel and the Muslim world can unite. The unity of Europe will not be a problem either. This will happen all at once. (266-134, 1994/12/22 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3 Section 4, 8)
"Fundamental Methods" for Equalization
How does True Father explain the method for equalization?
In Chapter 7 of His Autobiography, in the part titled, "Solution to Poverty and Hunger," He talks about "two fundamental and concrete methods."
Simply distributing food supplies by itself will not resolve hunger, though. A more fundamental approach to the problem is needed. I am considering two fundamental and concrete methods. The first is to provide ample supplies of food at low cost, and the second is to share technology that people can use to overcome hunger on their own. (As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen, Chapter 7, pg. 315)
In the above Words, He had planned the following two equalization measures:
Equalization Method 1: Provide ample supplies of food at low cost
Equalization Method 2: Share technology to overcome hunger
Let us examine True Father's deeds and Words to understand what these two methods were.
Equalization Method (1) Provide Ample Food at a Low Cost
Regarding this first method to "provide ample supplies of food at low cost," we can see that True Father needed to first (1) secure sources of "ample supplies of food," and then (2) find ways to distribute them "at low costs."
In summary, He talked about the following practical plans for the implementation of the first Equalization Method:
Securing maritime resources as the primary source of food for humanity
Developing maritime transportation industry to distribute resources
Develop hobby and tourism industry to connect nations and raise funds
Building International Peace Highway (Peace Road) to distribute maritime resources
True Father spoke the following Words in terms of securing maritime resources.
The issue of food will present humankind with a very serious crisis in the future. We cannot build a world of peace without first resolving the food issue. Sufficient food supplies for all the world’s population cannot be produced on the limited amount of land area that is currently available. We must look to the oceans for a solution. The oceans hold the key to solving the food crisis of the future. (As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen, Chapter 7, pg. 316)
In the future world, it will be necessary to industrially develop the resources of the world's oceans. I have already created a variety of enterprises that embrace all aspects of the fishing industry ranging from the manufacture of large scale fishing boats to the construction of fish hatcheries and farms. In the future, the sea will supply food to many of the world's people. Naturally, the development and cultivation of the sea will truly become a preferred method for bringing an end to the starvation that plagues humankind. (The Pacific Rim Providence Chapter 1, Section 1)
True Father spoke about maritime resources countless times in His Life, and His plan included fishing, fish farming, fish powder, and even the excavation of underground minerals.
True Father also had a plan on how to distribute the resources. True Father saw food being thrown away in the developed countries, and this led to the conclusion that the larger problem lies in the distribution. He planned for the establishment of the transportation industry, hobby tourism industry, and the International Peace Highway concept in order to enable even distribution of marine resources across the world which will lead to the physical equalization of the world.
(Photo: True Parents hold up a statue with Divine Principle in one hand and a fishing rod in another hand, at the 20th Anniversary Event for the US Ocean Providence that was held on August 1, 1994, at Belvedere, NY)
At the 20th Anniversary Event for the US Ocean Providence that was held on August 1, 1994, at Belvedere, NY, True Father spoke about enabling food distribution while building up an economic foundation through engaging in both transportation and tourism industries.
The reason I focus so much on the marine industries is to use this marine industry's transportation technology in the future to reach any country and any undeveloped land. In order to save the poverty-stricken people of the African region, we will pioneer the paths through the straits and rivers to reach them deep in the undeveloped lands. Starving people in Africa die for lack of food, but the food is abundant elsewhere in the developed countries around the world.
Roads and other means of transportation are not well developed in the undeveloped parts of Africa. In these undeveloped lands, people are constantly looking for water and settling at water's edges and estuaries. We can make good use of our small boats to get into these shallow interiors of the waterways.
In the future, what we need to do is to start a tourism business that uses small boats to fish and to carry supplies. While promoting tourism and bringing people on sightseeing trips, we can stop by the warehouse on the way back and bring enough food for a village to survive for a third of a year. In order to develop the tourism industry, we use our manufacturing technology for small boats and eventually deploy small boats in major port towns around the globe to guide tens of thousands of customers for sightseeing and fishing.
(Photo: The cabin boats that True Father designed and built at NJ in the United States were sent around 1997 and stationed at underdeveloped parts of Pantanal wetlands in South America)
We will distribute the food supplies that are just sleeping in the warehouses of developed countries of the world to save the starving people. If we promote the marine industry, transportation industry, and tourism industry centering on the small boats, supplies will go around as much as possible and can be used effectively. This will pave the way for developed and developing countries to trade with each other. We will start a tourism business on a global scale.
We go around the villages in sightseeing trips, while we move and distribute supplies to these villages. Then, what will happen? While we enter these villages and engage in distribution, it will be possible to interact and connect with the local people. (August 1, 1994, Belvedere, NY, at the celebration of 20 years of oceanic activities)
True Father was thinking of an incredibly unique idea to use small boats in undeveloped countries. The boat is used to distribute supplies to undeveloped villages and engage in hobby tourism trips such as fishing, at the same time. With this method, it will be possible to build an economic foundation through tourism while distributing supplies to the poor and at the same time bring wealthy people from developed countries to purchase local goods and encourage investment!
The significance of the hobby tourism industry mentioned here is summarized below:
Use of small boats to supply & food distribution in undeveloped areas
Economic foundation through tourism including local employment
Pave the way for developed and developing countries to trade with one another
Encourage advanced nations to invest in developing countries
Interaction with the local families (witnessing)
True Father had spoken these instructions in 1994. In modern days, the international tourism industry, especially in the area of eco-tourism, has become very popular and something that is planned carefully at the national level for developing countries. Also, eco-tourism or sustainable tourism has become a key strategic method for environmentalists to advocate conservation.
In addition, True Father was thinking of a global level method to bring about external equalization. The concepts of the International Peace Highway (Peace Road) including the "Bering Strait Peace King Bridge" and "Japan-Korea Tunnel" also secures marine resources and shares them worldwide along these international roads, which leads to a practical method of equalization of the entire world.
We must have a leading position in the oceans in the future. With my own hands I will recover all the gold, silver, and treasures in the sea. After thinking about it, I have concluded that we have to dig a lot of tunnels. That is also why I came up with this highway project. If I can drill a passage under the sea and create a door, wouldn't it be fun to open that door and catch a fish? (116-326, 1982.1.2 The Pacific Rim Providence Chapter 1, Section 1)
The International Peace Highway will rearrange the current inequality by creating access to existing natural and human resources. This will bring about a leveling of wealth. Leveling means that a little is taken off places that are high and added to places that are low. As a result, the two have the same height. This will require sacrifice from those with greater material possessions or knowledge. Building a world of peace cannot be done with one-time charitable acts or donations. Only sincere love and continuous sacrifice is capable of creating a world of peace. We must be willing to offer everything. (As A Peace-Loving Global Citizen Chapter 8, pg. 346)
Human beings are created so that their mind and body become one. Something similar is true for the world we live in. The world can be completely unified only when there is both physical communication and communication of heart. (As A Peace-Loving Global Citizen Chapter 8, pg. 345)
As the above Words say, "complete unity" and "world peace" cannot be achieved while there is still inequality. We must horizontally and substantially expand the vertical and internal victorious sphere inherited from True Parents. True Father had already given us a relatively detailed plan for us to implement, as we can see in His Words.
True Father foresaw that "we have to dig a lot of tunnels" and envisioned the international highway project in 1982, for the sake of equalization. Chinese communist party had announced the "Belt and Road Initiative" in 2013, 30 years later, to connect 70 nations for its own imperialism. A modern technological visionary, Elon Musk, had started a tunneling company called Boring Company in 2016, 35 years later.
True Father was the true visionary.
(Photo: The routes of the International Peace Highway drawn by True Father on June 30th, 2005. It includes the Japan-Korea Tunnel and the Bering Strait Peace King Bridge. Notice it never crosses the continents but only follows the coasts, where maritime resources can be collected and distributed.)
Equalization Method (2) Share technology to overcome hunger
Regarding the second method, to share technology, True Father explained this part of the plan referring often to South America.
It is as important to teach the skills needed to become self-sufficient in producing food as it is to distribute food directly to those in need. To teach such skills, we need to build schools in remote areas to combat illiteracy. Technical schools will need to be established in order to give people the ability to support themselves. The Westerners who conquered Africa and South America did not provide technology to the people who were already there. They only used the people as laborers as they sought to dig up and take away the resources that were buried in the ground. They did not teach the people how to farm or how to operate a factory. This was not right. Our church has, from the early stage of our foreign mission work, established schools in places such as Zaire for teaching agriculture and industrial technology. (As A Peace-Loving Global Citizen Chapter 7, pg. 321)
New Hope Farms is in Brazil, but it does not belong only to the people of Brazil. Anyone who is hungry can go to New Hope Farms, work, and be fed. Some two thousand people from all races and from all over the world can always eat and sleep there. We will establish schools all the way from elementary school to university. People will be taught how to farm and how to raise cattle. We will also teach how to plant and raise trees and how to catch, process, and sell fish. We do not have only a farm. We use the numerous lakes in the vicinity of the river to create fish farms and fishing grounds. (As A Peace-Loving Global Citizen Chapter 7, pg. 322)
I also want to make a world exhibition village in that region where we will showcase the culture that connects all 160 nations on an equal plane. This university will then become a destination for tourists from all over the world. Also, if facilities are built to accommodate those who want to study abroad, students from all over the world will be able to come and go. The ideal world will be represented in the context of these several interconnected projects. I am holding talks in order to accomplish these things. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Chapter 3, Section 5, 27)
You Unificationists must fulfill your responsibility to lead them and care for these people. You should go to the developing nations and become instructors and teachers at kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and universities. You should improve standards by teaching them the most modern agricultural methods. This is how you can save people who would otherwise starve to death. They first need to know how to fish effectively; this is why I sent four boats each to 160 nations. You are thinking, "What's the use of doing that?" because your hearts and minds are not enlightened. But I am telling you we must do it. (444-191, 2004/04/04 ChambumoGyeong Book 10, Chapter 2, Section 5)
True Father wanted Unificationists to go to undeveloped nations, build schools, build tourism bases, and teach agricultural and fishing techniques to fight hunger. In addition, we were to establish a model village in South America, make it a "world exhibition village," connect it to 160 nations, and then expand it globally. This was His 2nd practical method for world equalization, "to share technology to overcome hunger."
In South America, True Father instructed Japanese National Messiahs to pioneer Puerto Leda as an ideal village, and He clearly explains that the purpose of this ideal village is to solve the hunger problem.
In order to return to the ocean, we need to take interest in the fisheries business. To prepare for this, we plan to settle in the Pantanal with Leda at the center and carry out this work through the Japanese people. Realizing that conservation is the most important task in the Amazon region, we must take measures to prevent pollution as we develop business enterprises that can solve the problem of food shortages. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3, Section 5, 19)
The raw materials available from the land areas will not sustain us for even 50 more years. Therefore, a problem will arise. In 100 years, food resources from the land will be depleted. That is why we have to pioneer the sphere of the ocean. For this purpose I directed Japanese members to focus our Paraguay River basin efforts on the Leda farm, to create a model farm or a model fishery, an ideal city culture in harmony with nature. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3, Section 5, 22)
He called Jardim New Hope Farm an activity to unite the world and said that He was in a hurry "to build the substantial foundation" for teaching universal egalitarianism (all the nations of the world are equal).
The reason we are working to unite the world here in Jardim is because we urgently need to build a substantial foundation to bring the teaching that all the nations of the world are equal into actual reality. I am doing this in Jardim because we need an environment that transcends nations. Jardim is like the original garden. By garden, I mean the Garden of Eden. Interestingly, in the past, Catholic priests had prophesied that the Lord would come to Jardim. Hence many people said that the place where I built New Hope Farm was a blessed place. At an altitude of 900 meters, it is a good region for agriculture; it is suitable for growing both grains that do well in tropical regions and vegetables from the cooler regions. Rice farming or any kind of farming can easily be done here. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3, Section 1, 11)
He even said that the sole solution to world hunger lies in South America.
Famine is one of the most serious problems we face in the world today. Hence, it is urgent for us to secure food. The solution cannot even be found in the United States, only in South America. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 2, Section 4, 28)
I am saying let us establish the kingdom of heaven in South America. Living in this kingdom of heaven on earth and in heaven is better than just living with your family members, your relatives, or people of your race. It is something family members can establish together. There is no one who would not find this attractive. The people of South America are hoping that Reverend Moon will help their countries. Therefore, let us transform this environment into the one that I envision. Let us establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. There is an abundance of land that can feed and accommodate all the people of the world. This land must be liberated. I want to solve the food shortage problem and other difficult problems faced by humanity. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10 Chapter 3, Section 4, 16)
Based on the above Words, the specific functions of the ideal village sought by True Father in Puerto Leda and Jardim can be summarized as follows:
Technical school to solve the hunger problem
Model farm and model marine business
Ideological education for witnessing
Environmental conservation
Tourism base (which purpose was discussed before)
World Exhibition village to propagate the model to the world
Thus, it can be understood that True Father wanted us to create model communities in South America where people of the world can visit and find solutions to poverty and hunger. And we can deduce that because agriculture and fisheries are both possible in wetlands of Pantanal, He found these locations to be the best places to develop and teach hunger-fighting technologies, and this was why He said that the solution to the hunger problem can only be found in South America.
In addition, it can be understood that the reason why He appointed the 160 Japanese national messiahs to pioneer and develop this model village in South America in order to copy and expand the model to the world.
It is also important to note about other direct forms of "sharing technologies" had been planned and implemented by True Father. For example, in 1989, before China had become known as one of the wealthiest nations in the world, True Father offered China to help industrialization centering on the Panda Motors project. He even invested in North Korea to help them industrialize centering again on an automotive company called Pyeonghwa Motors from 1999.
True Father Set an Example Himself for Equalization
In 1995, True Father started to live in South America and showed us an example of the implementation of His equalization method. The following is from Chapter 7 in His autobiography:
I traveled the Paraguay River for three months, eating and sleeping with people from the area. At more than seventy years of age, I was taking on a task that people said was impossible. I taught the people I met what I know about fishing, and they taught me their language. We were on the boat like this together for three months and became friends.
Resolving the food situation does not mean that peace will follow immediately. After the hunger issue has been resolved, it is important to carry out educational programs on peace and love. I have built many schools in places such as Jardim and Chaco.
We worked hard to convince them that the children and young people needed an education. As a result, we now have many students. We built a light industrial factory where they could produce items using simple technologies, and the students became more interested in attending school so they could work in the factory.
We are all responsible for the people around the world who die of hunger. We need to take action to help them. We need to feel a clear sense of responsibility and find a way that they can be fed and saved. People who live well should come down to a slightly lower position and raise up those who live poorly, to bring about a world where all people live well. (As A Peace-Loving Global Citizen Chapter 7)
True Father has invested Himself and paved the way for the implementation of the equalization methods. He told us, "You should see the path I have taken." We can find solutions to everything when we look at His life course.
(Photo: True Father fishing in Salobra)
Realization of an Ideal Village is the Realization of the "Ideology of Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity, and Universally Shared Values"
True Father instructed the Japanese members to create a model industry, model society, and an ideal village at Puerto Leda in South America.
What type of economic form should this ideal village take? The economic form of the ideal village is neither capitalism, imperialism, nor communism which is a form of socialism centered on materialism. It will be in the form of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values.
In the Divine Principle, the ideology of "interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values" is described as "God-centered socialism" and that it is the final and ultimate economic system.
Because human beings are created to live in an ideal society, they will inevitably pursue a socialistic ideal as they strive for freedom and democracy and further search into their original nature. This is particularly true at the consummation of providential history, when this ideal can actually be realized. As this natural desire springs forth from within, politics in democracy, which is shaped by the will of the people, will also move in that direction. Eventually, a socialistic society embodying God's ideal will be established. (The Exposition of Divine Principle, Part II, Chapter 4, 7.2.6)
Democracies of two types arose with the purpose of dismantling absolute monarchy and transferring sovereignty to the people. Likewise, movements to further the ideals of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universally shared values arose on God's side, while communism was born on Satan's side, in order to demolish economic systems which concentrated a society's wealth in the hands of a privileged few. Each of these movements has sought to establish a system which would distribute wealth more equally among people. The aspirations to socialism on both sides have arisen in their providential striving to realize a society based on a truly democratic economic system. (The Exposition of Divine Principle, Part II, Chapter 4, 7.2.7)
We know that communistic societies such as the Soviet Union, China under Mao, and North Korea had failed, but many conservatives also mistrust the concept of socialism in general. In fact, the forms of socialism that have been practiced in modern times - e.g., Venezuela, Argentina, and Greece - were a combined form with capitalism and had been characterized by mismanagement of spending, bloated government intervention, and excessive welfare. Many people see these examples to be definitive evidence of socialism as a failed form of economic structure, where people have been given too much welfare and too little incentive to work hard and have lost the motivation to be productive.
On the other hand, capitalism (and imperialism) are losing popularity globally especially within the younger generations, because it is obvious that profit-driven objectives lead to overproduction that is causing massive environmental harm in the forms of pollution and destruction of natural habitats for other species. In addition, inequalities within industrialized societies and across borders seem to have no clear solution in the forms of capitalism.
In contrast, within a society that incorporates the economic system of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values, which is the true form of socialism, God-centered human beings sacrifice themselves for others and are willing to give and share naturally, without the need for government intervention. Therefore, in an ideal village centered on God, when there is a troubled neighbor in need of help, all the surrounding people will be naturally mobilized to help, just as water fills in empty spots to naturally become level.
If a community were to form that feeds, educates, and equalizes all people in the way True Father practiced in South America, it can be said that the "ideal village" that practices the economic form of "interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values" has been realized.
While the goal for us Unificationist families is clear, let us understand how the current world is moving in the search for a new, more democratic economic system.
Many economists and politicians still argue between capitalism and socialism but many developed nations have chosen a variety of combined systems. For example, most developed capitalistic countries have adopted some form of national health care, a form of welfare. China, controlled by a Communist party, has largely adopted a capitalistic economy. Others have argued about the emergence of "ethical capitalism" where the wealthy and corporations willingly donate to equalize society. In recent years, the concept of inequality has been almost universally viewed as one of the biggest social problems, and corporate responsibility, corporate ethics, and equity have become common words in daily conversations.
Today, there are hundreds of wealthy people (Giving Pledge) such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates who have pledged to donate large percentages (30~99%) of their wealth to charity. Although the fruits of such an endeavor are still to be determined, we cannot deny that there is a strong current towards global equalization.
True Father had advocated such a form of donation of the wealthy in 2002.
In order to build a united world, we should not be content to eat good food and live a good life in beautiful places. We should want to bring equalization so that all humankind can live at an equal level. Rich people should willingly pay 70 percent of their income in taxes, and poor people should willingly pay 30 percent in taxes; this will make a balance. They should willingly pay them, not pay them while complaining about it. (378-108, 2002/05/06 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Ch. 1)
As the Divine Principle says in Part II, Chapter 4, "Because human beings are created to live in an ideal society, they will inevitably pursue a socialistic ideal as they strive for freedom and democracy and further search into their original nature," it appears that the human society is moving more and more towards the direction of equalization, and waiting for the Unificationist families to complete the task of realizing the final form of an ideal society.
Where should the Investments Come From?
It is easy to imagine that these projects - from simple fishing to building an international network of highways and tunnels - for World Peace and Unification would not come cheap. There are projects like teaching the locals fishing or agriculture that can be started only with a fishing rod or some tools. To start local boat tourism will require a small boat. To build a village, we will need to invest much more in construction. To build international highways, tunnels, and bridges, we will need billions of dollars.
So where will we find these investments? When we think about it, traditional ways of increasing church membership and collecting donations may not be a very sustainable method. Many unificationist members had sold their houses and offered their wealth fully. Many work in various industries sustaining their lives with salaries, and donate the portions to support church activities.
Were True Father's plans unrealistic and unsubstantiated and did not even plan where the money should come from?
Actually, True Father invested heavily in at least two of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The first of them was the maritime industry, including seafood restaurants, fisheries, seafood processing and distribution, fish farms, and boat manufacturing. He had purchased and started various maritime businesses in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. (Photo: Fish farm research facility at Tongil Farm in New York in 1994)
From the period of 1980 to 2010, UN FAO reported that the fish and seafood consumption per capita of the world had increased from about 11kg to 19kg, by almost two times. According to reports by Fior Markets, the global fish and seafood market is expected to grow to more than 200 billion dollars by 2026, with expected annual growth of more than 9% on average from 2019 to 2026.
The second was tourism, which is a huge market amounting to about 8 trillion dollars - more than 10% of global GDP - if travel is included. True Father had invested heavily in Yeosu, Korea, for example, to build resorts. On the other side of the world in South America, True Father had purchased hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, which parts He envisioned to develop as tourism destinations.
(Photo: 1991 Ocean Peace leaving for Bering Strait from Seattle Washington)
True Father envisioned creating a business empire, which can generate funds to invest in all of His equalization projects. He clarified the purpose of businesses as He said:
My purpose of doing business and making money is to perform the role of bonding all the people of the world, whether rich or poor. My financial foundation is to be shared with those in poverty for the liberation of all humankind. This is the equalization that I am trying to realize. (225-291, 1992/01/26 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Ch. 1)
Late in His earthly life, True Father also started the Las Vegas providence in order to transform the sinful city into a healthy, God-centered hobby industry, and said:
I know all too well how evil Los Angeles and Las Vegas are. Las Vegas is the landing pad of the kingdom of lust, and it must be defeated. To defeat it, you have to go to the casino and dominate it like a king. If you are ignorant, you will be deceived when you go into this promiscuous world. The mafia always has you on camera; they have set up an environment to prevent anyone from taking advantage of them. We have to dominate this environment and use half its profits to educate the children of the Caintype world and the other half to convert it into a stronghold for peace that can save the 20 million people in the world who starve to death each year. This will establish a foundation to support God's Will in this land. (589-056, 2008/04/28 Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Ch. 2)
As we can see, True Father consistently thought of doing businesses for the sake of witnessing as well as for equalization, i.e., to solve global poverty and hunger.
In hindsight, many of these endeavors have failed or barely continuing due to various circumstances. However, it is important to know that True Father was not just a religious messiah who just came to teach His Words and change our lineage, but also to offer practical and comprehensive solutions to global problems.
He was the messiah for both spiritual and physical salvation.
The Nature of the Providence of North & South America Unification
It can be said that one of the characteristics of the Providence of North and South America Unification (and the Providence of World Peace and Unification) is that it is the 2nd 40-Year Course in the realm of the 4th Adam, meaning it is the Providence centered on the Blessed Families. It is part of the Providence that the Unification Family, instead of True Parents, must take the center stage to accomplish it on a horizontal scale. True Parents made a declaration on March 31, 1995, in Sao Paulo.
The Second 40-Year Course officially begins March 31, 1995, on the 36th True Parents Day. This is the period of our portion of responsibility, which has to be fulfilled on the level of blessed families, specifically focusing on second generation blessed families. Blessed families have inherited True Parents' victorious vertical and horizontal foundation. Because of this, their mission extends not all the way to the restoration of heaven and earth, but only to the restoration of nations. The blessed families who have fulfilled their missions of tribal messiahship need to unite to restore nations. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Chapter 3, Section 2)
The providence in South America is bringing and extending into the Cain realm the victory and blessing of the Abel realm, which was established by heaven. This providence is to join together the foundation of North America, a Protestant realm, in the position of Abel, with the foundation in South America, a Catholic realm. Next, the victory of this united Abel realm must be connected to the Jewish realm and they must become one. Then, the victory of this united and expanded realm of Abel must be connected to the sphere of Islam and thus further expanded into a higher unity. Finally, the victory and blessing of this greatly expanded Abel sphere must be connected to the spheres of the other religions. This is the future direction of the providence. With North America as the center, the worldwide Unification Church needs to make special effort to support South America. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Chapter 3, Section 2)
We can conclude that the Providence of North and South America Unification is the "Providence of World Unification" and the work to bring unification must be done by the Blessed Family in the realm of the 4th Adam, where the Blessed Family horizontally expands the realm of True Parents' victory.
The first forty years of my life until now was a time of tribulations, centering on the developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as centering on the land. That is why for twenty years I have been preparing for the oceanic civilization sphere in South America. I have been paving the way for the oceanic age to save all the countries within the tropical climate zone. That twenty-year course was to pave the path of tribulation. (277-131, 1996.4.7 The Pacific Rim Providence, Chapter 1, Section 1)
In addition, this 2nd 40-year course is the Oceanic Era, the course to bring salvation to all nations in the tropical regions through the realm of Oceanic Civilization.
The Unification Family Must Complete Unification and Peace as Unification Family
Was there anyone in history other than True Father who made such a logical and coherent plan connecting all aspects - economic, historic, religious aspects - to realize World Peace & Unification? There is but one person, True Father, the Second Coming.
True Father has explained to us the plans, trained us, and set examples for us, to complete the work.
Originally, if Christian people practiced the Word of Christ as true Christians, neither atheism nor communism would have expanded to the present scale.
Similarly, if the Unification family do not follow the straightforward Words of the Second Coming and follow the path of self-contradiction seen in other historical religions, all religions will continue to lose trust and legitimacy, and youths will regard religions as harmful and be attracted to atheism, transgenderism, and communism, leading to further expansion of these ideologies across the world.
No matter how long we sit and wait, the enormous work of world peace and unification will not be accomplished by politicians such as Biden and Trump. They will never go beyond the level of nationalism. The Blessed Family who inherited the lineage, heart, and methods of True Parents in this 2nd 40-year course for world peace and unification must be the ones who accomplish it. There is no other way. We must decide how we are going to use our lives which were given to us on the foundation and at the expense of the sacrifices of True Parents and True Family.
"As You Have Received, You must Give Completely and Absolutely"
It is a difficult path to follow the example of True Father. However, the future can be found only at the end of this path. If we don't follow this path, True Parents' relentless efforts would have been for nothing. As time goes by, our descendants will bear more debt, and we will be accused.
Many of us are tired, saying, "I don't want to be the sacrifice anymore" or "I've had enough suffering." However, nevertheless, True Father has shown us the true example of giving absolutely, sacrificing Himself and His family completely, and hoped for all of us to hold similar standards of sacrifice and giving.
The Jardim Declaration proclaimed the second 40-year course. We must practice absolute faith, absolute love and absolute obedience, which is the restoration of Eden. It means we have returned to Eden. By going back to Eden, we need to stand in a reciprocal and balanced relationship with God's own absolute faith, absolute love and absolute obedience. To accomplish this, we must become beings of absolute faith, absolute love and absolute obedience for the sake of our object partner, the creation. We have to give in order to resemble God. Since you have received, you absolutely need to give. This movement will expand and multiply only through absolute sacrifice and unconditional giving. Love exists through continuous reciprocation. That is why the declaration of absolute faith, absolute love and absolute obedience came forth in Jardim, where contact with the unfallen creation is made possible in the sphere of equality. In this way, an entire world built with absolute faith, absolute love and absolute obedience can be managed. (Chambumo Gyeong Book 10, Chapter 3, Section 2, 3)
Objectively speaking, we, the Unification family, have benefited immeasurably through the conversion of lineage, Blessing, and ancestral liberation/Blessing (pardon of all sins up to 430 generations). We have received from God and True Parents completely and absolutely, so we must give completely and absolutely.
Only then will the Give and Receive Action of Love continue and the unification movement for world peace and unification will expand. There is no other way, and without it, we cannot establish the settlement of future happiness (Kingdom of Heaven) forever.
We must complete the work - World Peace and Unification - centering on True Parents to realize the final, God-centered civilization.
(Photo: True Parents at Barrytown, NY, fishing on the Hudson River, around 1978.)
[South American Providence can be understood better when studied with Ocean Providence. For a deeper understanding, read the article "What's the Big Deal about Fishing (Importance and Urgency of Ocean Training)," where we explain more in detail how the Ocean Providence was important to True Father's path. ]
